DETROIT -- Jonathan Ericsson will have to learn to pick up souvenirs during his first postseason run with the Detroit Red Wings.

Especially when he records the game-winning goal.

Ericsson scored with a slap shot from near the blue line with 5:39 left in the second period to snap a 1-1 tie in the Red Wings' 4-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena.

After the game, the 25-year-old defenseman was asked if he retrieved the lucky puck.

"No. No, I didn't," Ericsson said. "I think I forgot about it."

Ericsson will have a chance to make more memorable moments. Since being recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins on March 4, he had one goal and three assists in 19 games at the end of the regular season.

In his first postseason game, he skated 20 shifts for 15:46 of ice time and had two hits while being paired mostly with former Griffin Brett Lebda.

Ericsson is getting a chance to play as Andreas Lilja recovers from headaches, and he is doing his best to keep it simple on the ice.

"My job out there is not to score goals, but when you get a goal, it's always a bonus," Ericsson said. "You feel good about yourself."

He's getting more and more at ease on the ice and now has no doubts about playing at the NHL level.

"Like in the beginning, you're a little bit nervous and not maybe 100 percent sure where you're going to be on the ice," Ericsson said. "But now I feel really comfortable."

In 40 games with the Griffins this season, he had two goals and 13 assists, and before his recall by Detroit missed a few weeks with an injured wrist.

"My hand is still not perfect, but it's good and I don't have any problems playing with it," Ericsson said.

He said playing a lot of minutes in Grand Rapids early in the season helped speed his development, rather than playing sparsely in Detroit behind other veterans.

"I do, absolutely. That's what we talked about before the season, too, with coach (Mike) Babcock and (general manager) Ken Holland. That's the best thing for me," Ericsson said. "They thought so, I thought so. I think that worked out."

He did not expect to receive this much playing time, but he is doing his best to make the most of it.

"It really gave me an opportunity to show myself out there," he said. "I really want to be here. I want to feel like I belong here."